Jefferson: Pressure is all on Warriors

Richard Jefferson

Cleveland Cavaliers veteran Richard Jefferson has an interesting outlook on game five of the NBA Finals.

Even though defending champions the Cavaliers are down 3-1 in the series, Jefferson said it is the Golden State Warriors who will be feeling the pressure as the teams meet on Monday.

The Cavs avoided a championship sweep by winning 137-116 on Friday.

"It's not on us. Where's the pressure on us? They had a 73-win team and they added a former MVP [Kevin Durant]," Jefferson told reporters on Sunday.

"We added Kyle Korver and Deron Williams. They added an MVP to a 73-win team after being up 3-1 and then KD was up 3-1. The pressure is all on them. 

"We're the defending champs. We believe that we have enough here to win a championship. We haven't played great thus far, but there's no pressure on us. There never has. It's been about them proving that last year was a fluke, KD validating the move here, which it's been validated. We feel very comfortable."

To Jefferson's credit, he is referring to the Warriors blowing a 3-1 lead in last year's Finals, giving Cleveland their first championship.

Once again, the Cavs find themselves in a hole, but the circumstances are different. No team in NBA have overcome a 3-0 deficit to win a championship.

That feat would be especially dramatic, considering the Warriors had a perfect postseason record before their game-four loss.

"I could just tell you this," Jefferson said. "A lot of people didn't believe we'd want to get on a plane and come back here. I can guarantee you they don't want to get on a plane and go back to Cleveland because they will probably be getting on a plane to come back."